Short answer — the safest, most “trusted” online gambling options in Canada are the provincially regulated sites and the operators licensed to run in Ontario’s regulated market. Examples and how to check:

1. Province-run (government) sites — highest trust for residents of those provinces

• PlayNow (British Columbia — BCLC). 100% legal, regulated by BCLC and profits return to the province. (corporate.BCLC.com)
• PlayAlberta / PlayAlberta.ca (AGLC — Alberta’s regulated site). (AGLC.ca)

2. Regulated Ontario market — licensed commercial operators

• iGaming Ontario maintains a directory of contracted/licensed operators legally offering casino and sportsbook products to players physically in Ontario. Well‑known branded operators listed there include BetMGM, FanDuel, bet365, DraftKings, LeoVegas, 888, PointsBet, Betway and many others (search the operator directory to confirm a specific brand). If a brand appears in iGaming Ontario’s operator list, it’s operating under Ontario rules. (igamingontario.ca)

3. Other points about legality and where to play

• Gambling in Canada is regulated primarily at the provincial level (federal Criminal Code allows gambling but provinces control delivery). That means availability and “legal” status vary by province; provincial government sites or provincially licensed operators are the most clearly legal choices. (TalkSport.com)

How to pick a trusted operator (quick checklist)

• Licensed in your province (or appearing on your province’s official list, e.g., iGaming Ontario). (igamingontario.ca)
• Clear licensing/regulator information on the site (AGCO/iGaming Ontario, BCLC, AGLC, etc.). (AGCO.ca)
• Responsible‑gambling tools available (self‑exclusion, deposit limits, help links). Provincial sites and licensed operators must provide these. (AGLC.ca)
• Secure connection (HTTPS), audited RNGs, third‑party testing/certification (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI) and fair terms & conditions.
• Reputable payment methods (major debit/credit, Interac e‑Transfer in Canada where offered, e‑wallets) and prompt, transparent withdrawals.
• Read recent user reviews and check for any regulatory enforcement actions against the brand.

Practical recommendation

• If you live in BC or Alberta, use the provincial site (PlayNow / PlayAlberta) first — they’re fully regulated and remit revenues to the province. (corporate.BCLC.com)
• If you live in Ontario, use a site that appears in the iGaming Ontario operator list (the iGO directory is the definitive source for licensed operators in Ontario). Confirm the brand and the specific gaming website are listed before depositing. (igamingontario.ca)

If you’d like, tell me which province you’re in (or intend to play from) and I’ll pull up the exact provincial site(s) and a short list of licensed brands available there right now.